Development of a novel light-regulated gene expression system

Thermus thermophilus HB8的转录调控因子LITR作为抑制因子与类胡萝卜素生物合成基因的上游区域结合，释放依赖于蓝光的抑制因子。该调控系统用于构建光依赖的基因表达系统。将含有LITR基因和LITR结合区的DNA片段插入到含有报告基因的表达载体中。蓝光照射下的基因表达响应结果表明，利用LITR构建光依赖基因表达系统是可行的。

A transcriptional regulator LitR of Thermus thermophilus HB8 acts as an repressor which binds to upstream region of carotenoid biosynthesis genes and releases repression depending blue light. This regulatory system was used for constructing a light-dependent gene expression system. A DNA fragment containing the litR gene and LitR-binding region was inserted into an expression vector containing a reporter gene in E. coli and T. thermophilus. The results of gene expression response to blue light irradiation suggested the feasibility of the light-dependent gene expression system using LitR.